New Zealand Life Expectancy
Life expectancy at birth, total SP.DYN.LE00.IN
New Zealand's life expectancy was 82.9 in 2025, ranked 19th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
New Zealand's life expectancy stood at 82.9 in 2025, a decline of +0.1 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 82.9 by 2025. New Zealand ranked 19th globally.
New Zealand’s life expectancy has risen steadily over the 65‑year series, climbing from 71.24 in 1960 to 82.94 in 2025, which places the nation 19th in the world. The all‑time trough of 70.99 occurred in 1961, shortly after the earliest record, while the peak of 83.00 was reached in 2023, indicating that the most recent years have already surpassed the long‑term average. This upward trajectory mirrors that of peer economies such as Israel, whose 2025 figure of 83.10 sits marginally higher, and Korea, at 83.12, suggesting that advanced health systems and sustained public‑health investment are common drivers. Despite the modest gap between the 2023 peak and the 2025 value, the slight dip may reflect temporary pressures such as pandemic‑related mortality or demographic ageing. Continued improvements in preventive care, chronic‑disease management, and socioeconomic equity are likely to determine whether New Zealand can sustain or extend its recent gains in life expectancy.
Data & projection
| Year | Life Expectancy | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 83.1 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 82.9 | - | - |
| 2025 | 82.9 | −0.1 | #19 |
| 2023 | 83.0 | +1.0 | #22 |
| 2022 | 82.0 | −0.2 | #26 |
| 2021 | 82.2 | −0.0 | #23 |
| 2020 | 82.3 | +0.2 | #18 |
| 2019 | 82.1 | +0.3 | #29 |
| 2018 | 81.7 | −0.2 | #31 |
| 2017 | 81.9 | +0.2 | #27 |
| 2016 | 81.7 | +0.0 | #27 |
| 2015 | 81.6 | +0.2 | #27 |
| 2014 | 81.5 | +0.1 | #29 |
| 2013 | 81.4 | −0.0 | #25 |
| 2012 | 81.4 | +0.3 | #22 |
| 2011 | 81.2 | +0.3 | #24 |
| 2010 | 80.9 | +0.2 | #24 |
Analysis
New Zealand's life expectancy was 82.9 in 2025, a decline of −0.1 from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 82.9 by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Zealand's life expectancy was 82.9 in 2025. Ranked 19th globally. This represents a 0.1% decrease from the previous year.
New Zealand's life expectancy peaked at 83.0 in 2023.
The lowest life expectancy in New Zealand was 71.0 in 1961.
New Zealand ranks 19th globally in life expectancy as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Data sourced from World Bank.
New Zealand's life expectancy is projected to reach 82.9 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The life expectancy of New Zealand in 2025 was 82.9. This ranks 19th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_new-zealand_life-expectancy,
title = {New Zealand Life Expectancy},
url = {https://historysaid.com/new-zealand/life-expectancy/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}